The event is in response to incendiary remarks made by King last week, when the conservative congressman suggested to Newsmax that many students who qualify for the DREAM Act are criminals. “For everyone who’s a valedictorian, there’s another 100 out there who weigh 130 pounds — and they’ve got calves the size of cantaloupes because they’re hauling 75 pounds of marijuana across the desert,” King said.

The comments were summarily and swiftly dismissed by House GOP leaders, but Democrats see this as an opportunity to paint bright lines between their positions and Republicans’, especially as it remains unclear whether House Republicans will be able to move immigration legislation of any kind. The Senate last month approved a bipartisan, comprehensive overhaul bill. The event in Iowa could be the first of many that Democrats and backers of the legislation stage to drum up support for change.

In floor remarks delivered Thursday, Durbin had strong words for King, whose comments he called “mean” and “hateful.”

“If you are going to be part of this political business, you better have a pretty tough spine and a pretty hard shell because people throw criticism around all the time, and if you cannot take it, this ain’t beanbag, do something else,” Durbin said on the Senate floor. “I deeply resent what was said by Congressman King about these DREAMers. It is totally unfair. It is mean, and it is hateful. Do not take my word for it; take the words of the Republican leaders who responded to Mr. King.”

Durbin said at the time he believed King should meet a few DREAM Act students to see if interacting with them might change his mind. Now it appears that instead of waiting for King to take the proactive steps of doing so, the Illinois Democrat will bring the students to him.

“It troubles me and it is heartbreaking to think that these DREAMers — these young people who are simply asking for a chance to be part of the United States — would be characterized as dope smugglers and drug smugglers,” Durbin continued in his floor remarks. “Obviously, Congressman King has never read the DREAM Act because if you have ever been convicted of a crime, you cannot be approved through the DREAM Act for citizenship — not a serious crime. That is part of the law. He should know better, but I am not sure that he cares.

“I am glad Members of his own party have stepped up and branded these comments for what they are. What I have to say to him is, take a moment away from the media, meet some of these DREAMers, and hear their stories. Hear what they have been through, and hear about what they want to do with their lives for the future of the United States of America.”

Tell Senator Durbin that we notice he doesn’t have to worry about the DREAM act in Illinois, because so many students are being killed in his Chicago that there won’t be any left to worry about.

El Puma

The concern ought not to arise from the fact that one of many said this; it instead resides in the question as to how many of the whole share such a view, but do not voice it. Whatever the answer, it must be said: how very shallow and bigoted.

Carolyn Cooke

Two disgusting old liberal hacks. I hope King’s supporters are out in force and I pretty much think they will be. :0)

Miss_Nomer

The only rights being squashed are those of the ACTUAL AMERICAN PEOPLE…

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to OURSELVES and OUR POSTERITY, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Section 4
The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them AGAINST INVASION and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence.

[Article XI]
The Judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to extend to any suit in law or equity, commenced or prosecuted against one of the United States by Citizens of another State, or by Citizens or Subjects of ANY FOREIGN State.

The power of Congress “to exclude aliens from the United States and to prescribe the terms and conditions on which they come in” is absolute, being an attribute of the United States As a sovereign nation, through the action of the legislative department, can exclude aliens from its territory is a proposition which we do not think open to controversy. Jurisdiction over its own territory to that extent is an incident of every independent nation. It is a part of its independence. If it could not exclude aliens, it would be to that extent subject to the control of another power. *** The united States, in their relation to foreign countries and their subjects or citizens are one nation, invested with powers which belong to independent nations, the exercise of which can be invoked for the maintenance of its absolute independence and security throughout its entire territory. — SCOTUS 1889

“If Congress can forbid the entry ***, it can punish those who cooperate in their fraudulent entry.” — SCOTUS 1909

Solution deemed by the Founders:
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”

MAC

Send Durbin and Harkin a copy of They Come to America. It proves Rep King is correct in his statement. Maybe we should send both, reports on all crimes committed by illegals within the age range that would get legal status under the Dream Act…..

PasoFinoCA

Senator Durbin is a fraud. His time would be better spent on a day in Illinois working on real problems. Hundreds of young black murder other young blacks every year in Chicago ending any and all dreams.

M_Becker

I live in Arizona and I’m sorry I can’t vote for Steve King. He’s absolutely right. Since the demonstrators are likely to be illegal aliens I can only hope that local police will arrest them and then RICO the organizers.

Roll Call Video Picks

About #WGDB

Niels Lesniewski has covered the Senate for CQ Roll Call since January 2010, and more recently as a staff writer and resident procedure guru for Roll Call. Niels holds degrees in both government and theater but sometimes can't tell the difference between the two. @nielslesniewski